MHA issues advisory to media: Avoid air raid siren sounds in programs
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, May 10, 2025 — The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, has issued an advisory to all media channels, urging them to refrain from using Civil Defence Air Raid Siren sounds in their programming, except for community awareness drives.
The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Fire Service, Civil Defence & Home Guards, notes that routine use of siren sounds in media broadcasts may reduce public sensitivity and lead civilians to misinterpret them as routine, rather than recognizing them as an emergency signal during actual air raids.
This directive has been issued under Section 3(1)(w)(i) of the Civil Defence Act, 1968, to ensure that the public remains alert to real warnings and that civil defense preparedness is not compromised.
The ministry has sought the support of media houses in helping strengthen civil defence preparedness and maintaining public awareness about the importance of these alerts.
The advisory was addressed to Shri Raj Kumar, ADG Media and Communication, Ministry of Home Affairs, and a copy has been sent to Dr. Rajesh Gupta, Joint Secretary of Disaster Management, MHA.